#10 Zoran Planinic
Player File
Zoran Planinic is a 6' 8" rookie
point guard from Bosnia - Herzegovina.
Birthday:
September 12, 1982
Birthplace:
?
High School:
??
Drafted:
22nd overall in the 2003 Draft, by New Jersey.
Contract: Signed through the 2005 - 2006
season.
Nicknames: So far,
you've come up with such names as "The Croatian Sensation",
"Lil' 'Zo", "Zippy", "MiniEuro", and "Zoran
Zoranadana". More here.
Known For: Ability to run the fast break, creativity, footspeed, Jason Kidd's expected understudy.
The Real Deal: What we know about Planinic: the Nets' scouting and coaching staffs are wild about his abilities and the fact that he can play the same game as Jason Kidd. We also know that apparently he was a ladies' man back in his home country. After that, well, we can only judge on what we've seen so far - moments of brilliance leading the break followed by sheer exasperation as he's schooled on the defensive end by an NBA vet or clanging a shot off the rim. Patience, folks. This isn't Brandon Armstrong we're talking here. Given time, the Nets' Gepetto will be the capable backup that Kidd desperately needs to reduce his minutes and Byron Scott desperately wants so the Nets don't have to change their tempo while Kidd's on the bench.
Joe's Update: Well, things will be different early on if Lucious Harris is out for an extended period due to injury. Ideally, the Nets want to use Planinic in the beginning in situations where he can't hurt them too much, and get him minutes when the Nets have a big lead or are playing a clearly inferior team. From the looks of things, Planinic just needs to stop thinking and let the game come to him, and practice his shooting morning, noon and night. All the tools are there, it's just a matter of Planinic adjusting to the speed of the NBA game. Once it all clicks, it should be a joy to behold. When that will occur, however, is anyone's guess.
Zoran Planinic's stats and bio: click here.
The 2003 - 2004 Roster
Brandon Armstrong - G
Jason Collins - C/F
Lucious Harris - G
Richard Jefferson - F
Jason Kidd - G
Kerry Kittles - G
Kenyon Martin - F
Alonzo Mourning - C
Zoran Planinic - G
Rodney Rogers - F
Brian Scalabrine - F
Tamar Slay - G/F
Aaron Williams - C/F
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